Game count safari at Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This trip avoids flying internally within Zimbabwe, instead using overland transport to access each remote area.

The trip promotes human powered activities and transport: walking safaris, rhino tracking on foot, cycling trips to local villages, white water rafting, etc.

All food is locally sourced from local villages, generating income to local farmers and villages.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas: an expansive 14,600-square-kilometer landscape home to one of the highest concentrations of elephants on the continent, along with a remarkable diversity of wildlife. But preserving this delicate ecosystem requires careful monitoring, strategic conservation efforts, and ongoing research.

For over 50 years, the Hwange Annual Wildlife Census, the longest-running game count of its kind in Africa, has been a critical initiative to track population dynamics, migration patterns, and species health within the park. Conducted by Wildlife & Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ) in partnership with conservation groups and park authorities, the census provides essential data to help safeguard Hwange’s fragile ecosystem.

For the first time, safari guests take part in this extraordinary conservation initiative, offering a special ASC Game Count Safari. This experience allows safari-goers not just to witness Africa’s iconic wildlife but to play an active role in protecting it.

Participation in the Game Count Safari directly funds conservation initiatives in Hwange, supporting the Mother Africa Trust’s key projects. Contributions help build and maintain sustainable water sources for wildlife, fund anti-poaching patrols, and support local communities living in the park’s surrounding areas.

By choosing this experience, guests play an active role in protecting Hwange’s biodiversity while supporting initiatives that empower local communities and ensure the long-term survival of Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

The lodges featured in this itinerary are locally owned and managed. Furthermore, they are actively involved in empowering communities: examples include:

- introducing a sustainable project for child headed families and the needy in local communities. The Goat Gift Project entails a gift of goats to a family. Once the goats reproduce the initial goats are donated to another family. Goats are ideal for drought prone areas. They reproduce quickly and can free a family from the dependence cycle. Once they multiply, a struggling family can sell some of their goats to pay school fees or use the money to buy basic commodities.

- creating income-generating opportunities in rural areas. In collaboration with the Mabale Community, they are working on beekeeping initiatives to provide women with an alternative to relying solely on remittances. This project not only generates income but also equips women with skills to process honey into valuable products such as wax, soap, and body lotion. The honey is harvested sustainably to protect the endangered bee population. Additionally, the lodges act as both a partner and a market for the project, promoting a farm-to-table approach. The honey produced will be utilized at the lodges. The funds generated from this initiative are crucial in the ongoing fight against poverty within the Mabale community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

The lodges actively employ people from the local community, but are also involved in many projects through a Trust which promotes inclusivity,diversity and education for future employment. For example:

- Their Academic Scholarship programme offers full funding to deserving students from identified rural communities. The programme aims to support children who have not had the same educational benefits or opportunities in life as others. To date, the Trust has awarded 15 fully funded scholarships… their mission is to change Zimbabwe one person at a time, with the belief that education brings hope; education inspires, enables and impacts entire communities.

- Women in Zimbabwe often face significant inequality. The Trust is committed to promoting equal opportunities, which is why they wholeheartedly support the basket weaving project with the women of Siyanyanga. Their beautifully crafted baskets are not only stunning but also worth every penny. They urge everyone to show their support for these hardworking women by purchasing their decorative baskets. The women of Siyanyanga have encountered numerous obstacles, including traveling long distances to obtain the material for their baskets and lacking the necessary dyes. In response, the Trust has taken action by establishing an ilala plant garden to provide easier access to materials and ensure sustainable harvesting.

- The mushroom project provides a solution to the rising cost of meat by offering mushrooms as a substitute. This initiative also serves as a reward for female goat herders who demonstrate excellent holistic goat herding practices. These women are able to cultivate mushrooms while tending to their goats, aiming to generate both sustenance and income for their households. Furthermore, the project contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by addressing hunger and malnutrition.